No Olympics for England players

Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Phil Jones can abandon any hopes they might have had of appearing for Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

PUBLISHED: 07:03, Sat, Dec 17, 2011

Jack Wilshere (No.4) and Wayne Rooney (No.10) [PA]

Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Phil Jones can abandon any hopes they might have had of appearing for Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

The talented trio, along with Chris Smalling, are expected to feature at Euro 2012 for England and the Football Association have confirmed they will not select players for the Olympics who go to Poland and Ukraine.

Rooney could have been eligible for the Olympics as an over-age player while his Manchester United team-mates Jones and Smalling and Arsenal's Wilshere qualify as they are under 23. But Stuart Pearce has confirmed he will not select any player for Team GB at the Olympics if they have been part of the England squad for Euro 2012.

Pearce, the coach of the Great Britain men's team, had initially been keen not to rule out that option but has now accepted it is "a sensible football decision".

Pearce said: "We have had discussions as we come now to notifying the long list of the players who could potentially be selected and it is important to make clear what we have agreed regarding England players who will be at Euro 2012.

"We have agreed that any player who boards the plane to the European Championship in Ukraine and Poland will not be considered for selection to Team GB. It's a sensible football decision when you consider the demands on players, and it now leaves no room for doubt for players and their clubs about next summer and the two major tournaments."

The FA this week began notifying home associations and players of those on a long list for potential selection. Players are asked to confirm whether they would be available.

Pearce's announcement will please club managers such as Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson who have said it would be too much for players to play in both tournaments.

It has also been revealed the Olympic Stadium could have retractable seating installed over the running track after the London Games to make it more attractive to football fans.

West Ham, who are favourites to be chosen as the tenants, are looking at having the retractable seating as part of their new bid for the stadium. The new tender process for the stadium is due to be announced next week and West Ham are the favourites to be chosen as the tenants.